Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes were recognised with an annual graduation for their Jiu Jitsu programmes in December. The students of SXM BJJ Renzo Gracie St. Maarten demonstrated self-defence techniques in front of family and friends followed by live training (sparring) and promotions.
In the under 14-year-old children’s programmes, stripes were earned by Mason Bardfield, Rylan Benjamin, Lucas Berman, Declan Boyd, Caleb Deher, Jaimi Drijvers, Luna Fourie, Natalia Mullen, Mason Hoeve, Aria Kukreja, Kyle Manuel, Arianna Palm, Hugo Petit, Nathan Shepard, Abigail Rosen, Maya Zabala, Jacobus Drijvers, Jamilio Liburd Hodge, Abdul Meyers, Jayden Bertrand, Naiysha Hassell, Param Jessani, Jeremy Lake, Saadji Mezhoud, Gabriel Sequaris, Xaviera Thomas, Donna Tjaden, Noor Yousef and Ghassan Yousef.
White and Grey belts were earned by Liam Van Windt, Jean Harold Audebert, Damian Cheng, Khloe Cheng, Zeo Doncher-Arrindell, Justice Lawrence, Douglas Pearson and Darina Smirnova.
Topper Daboul Jr. earned a white/grey belt last month and earned his first stripe.
Grey belts were earned by Vlad Ahlip, Amir Baharani, Jaali Galvani, Brandaen Illis, Emma Szabo, Patrick Szabo, Selah Romney, Nahjae A. Prince, Eldric Phebe.
New Grey/Black belts include Ziro Degrammond and Julia Hinkfoot.
New White/Yellow belts were awarded to Lucas Bardfield and Deina Liverpool.
New Yellow belts include Isaiah Arrindell-Peterson, Brandon Bertrand, Niel Jederon, Nakysha Jederon, Moises Martina and Megan Whyte.
Jet Fleming was awarded a Yellow/Black belt.
Seybian Ortgea and Aiden Wilkie earned Orange belts.
Orange/Black belts were earned by Miles Cheasley, Lukas Hassell, Keziah Hoeve, Caiyden Marlin Leandro Zabala and Connor Scripps Ewing.
In the adults and teen programme, Baptiste Lagrande earned the prestigious adult rank purple belt. Sacha Leal earned a yellow, Reva Hirandrani earned a yellow/black belt and Derek Matser, Shaquannie Vanterpool, and Renard Brison earned orange/white belts. Stripes were earned by blue belt Julien Dumon.
SXM BJJ’s Community outreach Special Needs Self Defence group also held a demonstration on Saturday, December 8, from 10:30 to 11:15am and earned participation medals.
The special needs group evolved from an SXM DOET seminar for the Down Syndrome Foundation in 2016 and continued as a weekly self-defence and grew to also include individuals with Autism, PDD-NOS (which is one of the autism spectrum disorders) and students who need closer attention than the regular group classes provide.
SXM BJJ is an officially registered academy with the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). As the Black belt head professor, Melissa Bardfield holds the authority to award official promotions.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu promotions are based on performance and adhere to age/time requirements outlined by the IBJJF. Performance is based on live combat and competition.
SXM BJJ’s instructors believe that martial artists are required to have integrity, honesty, courtesy and humility. Students learn fighting skills only to be used in self-defence or organised competitions.
Fighting in the street is strictly forbidden. Instructor Melissa Bardfield and her team hold their students by this guideline. The aim of the programme is to instil discipline, respect and self-confidence in each student.
